So why don’t I submit to the social and media tidal wave and
fall in line?
A second problem I have, let me be blunt: it’s a frickin’ waste of water for a country and world which will very soon be begging for it. Yeah, ok, one two gallon bucket is no big deal and it's only one person at a time. I admit that the illusion of minimal waste is convincing. But multiplied by millions of imitators – each trying to outdo the others- it is. According to a spot on drought and water (with Physicist Michio Kaku three days ago on CBS Early show) the volume of water consumed so far in the ice bucket challenge would cover all the land from the Pacific coast to the
Apart from that there are plenty of legitimate reasons to
question the philanthropic viral sensation of the summer — from its gimmicky premise
to the way it overshadows our own government’s
slashing of medical research funding . (As former Sen. John Dingell noted
two mornings ago, billions have been cut by the Repukes since 2007) . Look, give me one buck slashed from medical research budgets by the Repukes for every ten that the ALS gimmickry has collected. If we had the former we'd be well on the way to a cure.
I concede that it’s hard to argue with the over $31 million raised
for ALS so far, or the awareness the
stunt has raised for this incurable degenerative disease. But I submit that if it takes such hijinks to
“raise awareness” and get people off their ass to contribute then something is
wrong with the people. My other concern: what will happen to the ALS funding when the fad passes into history as it inevitably must?
Now, the story has even taken a new twist as religious groups are
beginning to discourage followers from participating — because ALS research at
times relies on embryonic stem cells. This week, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
specifically asked Catholic school leaders at 113 schools to “immediately cease”
any fundraising plans connected to the challenge, because the ALS Association
funds at least one study using embryonic stem cells — “in direct conflict with
Catholic teaching.” (Of course, those of us who are scientific Materialists
vigorously disagree with this – but again that is the Catholics’ choice and
ought to be respected.)
As
for the wastage of water issue, as a scientific Materialist I take it as more
serious than the embryonic stem cell connection to ALS research. In
the ‘State
of the World’ report (2000, pp. 46-47), it was noted that the ever
increasing water deficits will likely spark “water wars” by 2025.. As they note
(p. 47):
Quote:
“When a country’s renewable water supplies
drop below 1,700 cubic meters per capita (what some analysts call the water
stress level) it becomes difficult for the country to mobilize enough water to
satisfy all the food, household, and industrial needs of its population.”
Market “solutions” are absurd on their
face since water is an absolute life necessity not a commercial commodity, or one that a
vast population can simply "move to" to access! (Hint: nations with their own water
may not appreciate it!) One cannot and nations will not, “bargain for water” or
permit privatized solutions, such as met with major political crisis in Bolivia four
years ago. You are looking, in effect, at mass chaos, bloody guerilla style
warfare which no country will be able to prevent inside its borders.
The same ‘State of the World’ report noted at present rates of decline and even without factoring in the worst global warming influences – the number of people living in water-stressed countries will rise from 470 million to 3 billion by 2025, more than a six-fold increase. Add in projected new climate change data and likely effects and the stressed populations increase nine or tenfold.
The cold, brutal fact is that this planet has limited resources, including potable, fresh water, so must also have a carrying capacity beyond which human needs cannot be adequately met.
The same ‘State of the World’ report noted at present rates of decline and even without factoring in the worst global warming influences – the number of people living in water-stressed countries will rise from 470 million to 3 billion by 2025, more than a six-fold increase. Add in projected new climate change data and likely effects and the stressed populations increase nine or tenfold.
The cold, brutal fact is that this planet has limited resources, including potable, fresh water, so must also have a carrying capacity beyond which human needs cannot be adequately met.
Those
who toss out gallons of water – iced or not – when they do the formal ice
bucket challenge – are therefore ignoring the planet’s resource – water limits
and acting as if there will be abundant stores indefinitely.
There
are other options:
1)
Just
donate money to ALS research without all the spectacle, ego-gratification, self promotion.
2)
Do
what people in So. California
are doing and use a small doll or puppet to dump a tiny bit of water on with a
toy bucket. I know, not as dramatic or impressive – when you’d rather show off
to friends – but it also gets over the point of water conservation.
3) Use another act to emblemize your spirit, such as gulping down a beer with a taco or burrito.
4) Rather than wastefully dump buckets of water, get a group of would be contributors together to jump into an ice cold lake.
I am not saying people shouldn't participate, only to think before they do. In particular, ask yourself: Is this going to be a continuing support commitment or done only as a one-off as part of a national craze? If the latter is the case, and your support ends with the bucket dousing and one check, then it is a waste of time....and water!
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